Rethinking the Emotions of Public Speaking

Whenever I have moments of anxiety before a public presentation, I think of the gymnast Laurie Hernandez (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__zFXvut3oM). In her high-stakes Olympic performances we see her do several things not just to calm herself, but also to reassure herself of her training. She touches her stomach prior to the floor exercise to give herself a moment of calm. She takes deep breaths and trains her eyes on the vault. And most famously, says to herself “I got this” before mounting the beam. It’s from here that she allows herself the joy of her sport, reminds herself of how far she’s come, and affords herself the confidence to execute. It’s something we see as individual achievement but also as a service to the audience, who reciprocate and join her in the celebration of excellence.

I think of my own public speaking like this. As something which is happening for the audience, rather than to me. And that simply being yourself, telling the truth, channeling humility, avoiding the compulsion to ramble, and being generous enough to give the audience as much benefit from my attendance as possible, provides value for them, but a critical calm for me.

---